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North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District

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North Carolina redrew its congressional district boundaries in October 2025. Voters will elect representatives under the new map in 2026. Click here to read more about mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.

North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District
Incumbent
Gregory MurphyRepublican
Assumed office: September 17, 2019

North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Gregory Murphy (R).

As of the 2020 Census, North Carolina representatives represented an average of 746,711 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 735,829 residents.

Elections

See also: North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2028


There are no official candidates yet for this election.


See also: North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Austin Ayers (L) is running in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Austin Ayers
Austin Ayers (L)

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Allison Jaslow (D), George Papastrat (D), Christopher Schulte (D), and Raymond Smith Jr. (D) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Allison Jaslow
Image of George Papastrat
George Papastrat
Image of Christopher Schulte
Christopher Schulte
Image of Raymond Smith Jr.
Raymond Smith Jr.

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Incumbent Gregory Murphy (R) is running in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Incumbent Gregory Murphy (R) defeated Gheorghe Cormos (L) in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy (R)
 
77.4
 
248,276
Image of Gheorghe Cormos
Gheorghe Cormos (L)  Candidate Connection
 
22.6
 
72,565

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 320,841
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled.

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled. Incumbent Gregory Murphy (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 without appearing on the ballot.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian Party primary

The Libertarian Party primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled. Gheorghe Cormos (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 without appearing on the ballot.

See also: North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Incumbent Gregory Murphy (R) defeated Barbara Gaskins (D) in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy (R)
 
66.9
 
166,520
Image of Barbara Gaskins
Barbara Gaskins (D)  Candidate Connection
 
33.1
 
82,378

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 248,898
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Barbara Gaskins (D) defeated Joe Swartz (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Barbara Gaskins
Barbara Gaskins  Candidate Connection
 
80.8
 
23,051
Image of Joe Swartz
Joe Swartz  Candidate Connection
 
19.2
 
5,495

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 28,546
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Incumbent Gregory Murphy (R) defeated Tony Cowden (R), Eric Earhart (R), George Papastrat (R), and Brian Friend (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy
 
75.7
 
50,123
Image of Tony Cowden
Tony Cowden
 
14.1
 
9,332
Image of Eric Earhart
Eric Earhart  Candidate Connection
 
4.9
 
3,274
Image of George Papastrat
George Papastrat  Candidate Connection
 
2.7
 
1,789
Image of Brian Friend
Brian Friend  Candidate Connection
 
2.6
 
1,698

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 66,216
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

See also: North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Incumbent Gregory Murphy (R) defeated Daryl Farrow (D) in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy (R)
 
63.4
 
229,800
Image of Daryl Farrow
Daryl Farrow (D)
 
36.6
 
132,752

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 362,552
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2020, was canceled. Daryl Farrow (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 without appearing on the ballot.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Gregory Murphy (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 without appearing on the ballot.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

See also: North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District special election, 2019

General election

Special general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Gregory Murphy (R) defeated Allen Thomas (D), Greg Holt (Constitution Party), and Tim Harris (L) in the special general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on September 10, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy (R)
 
61.7
 
70,407
Image of Allen Thomas
Allen Thomas (D)
 
37.5
 
42,738
Image of Greg Holt
Greg Holt (Constitution Party)
 
0.4
 
507
Image of Tim Harris
Tim Harris (L)
 
0.3
 
394

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 114,046
(100% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary runoff

Special Republican primary runoff for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Gregory Murphy (R) defeated Joan Perry (R) in the special Republican primary runoff for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on July 9, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy
 
59.7
 
21,481
Image of Joan Perry
Joan Perry
 
40.3
 
14,530

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 36,011
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary

Special Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

The following candidates ran in the special Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on April 30, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Allen Thomas
Allen Thomas
 
50.0
 
12,933
Image of Richard Bew
Richard Bew
 
25.2
 
6,532
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Dana Outlaw
 
12.6
 
3,268
Image of Isaiah Johnson
Isaiah Johnson
 
6.9
 
1,774
Image of Gregory Humphrey
Gregory Humphrey
 
2.7
 
695
Image of Ernest Reeves
Ernest Reeves
 
2.6
 
683

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 25,885
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

Special Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

The following candidates ran in the special Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on April 30, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Gregory Murphy
Gregory Murphy
 
22.5
 
9,530
✔
Image of Joan Perry
Joan Perry
 
15.4
 
6,536
Image of Phillip Shepard
Phillip Shepard
 
12.1
 
5,101
Image of Michael Speciale
Michael Speciale
 
9.5
 
4,022
Image of Phil Law
Phil Law
 
8.7
 
3,690
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Eric Rouse
 
7.7
 
3,258
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Jeff Moore
 
5.4
 
2,280
Image of Francis De Luca
Francis De Luca
 
3.9
 
1,670
Image of Celeste Cairns
Celeste Cairns
 
3.5
 
1,467
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
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Chimer Davis Clark Jr.
 
2.6
 
1,092
Image of Michele Nix
Michele Nix
 
2.2
 
915
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Graham Boyd
 
2.1
 
897
Image of Paul Beaumont
Paul Beaumont
 
1.9
 
805
Image of Mike Payment
Mike Payment  Candidate Connection
 
1.3
 
537
Image of Don Cox
Don Cox
 
0.6
 
251
Image of Kevin Baiko
Kevin Baiko
 
0.4
 
171
Image of Gary Ceres
Gary Ceres  Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
108

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 42,330
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian Party primary

Special Libertarian primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Tim Harris (L) defeated Shannon Bray (L) in the special Libertarian Party primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on April 30, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Tim Harris
Tim Harris
 
56.0
 
75
Image of Shannon Bray
Shannon Bray
 
44.0
 
59

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 134
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Incumbent Walter B. Jones (R) won election in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Walter B. Jones
Walter B. Jones (R)
 
100.0
 
187,901

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 187,901
(100% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3

Incumbent Walter B. Jones (R) defeated Phil Law (R) and Scott Dacey (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 3 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Walter B. Jones
Walter B. Jones
 
43.0
 
20,963
Image of Phil Law
Phil Law
 
29.4
 
14,343
Image of Scott Dacey
Scott Dacey
 
27.5
 
13,421

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 48,727
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Previous election results


District map

2025_01_03_nc_congressional_district_03.jpg

Redistricting

2025-2026

See also: Redistricting in North Carolina ahead of the 2026 elections

North Carolina redrew its congressional map ahead of the 2026 elections. The state Senate approved a new congressional map on October 21, 2025, and the state House followed on October 22, 2025.[9][10] The New York Times' Eduardo Medina wrote, "Republicans already have control of 10 of the state’s 14 congressional seats. The new map could give them an extra seat in the First Congressional District, which previously included all eight of the state’s majority Black counties and has now been redrawn to include more conservative-leaning counties. The district is currently held by Representative Don Davis, a Democrat."[11]

2020-2023

See also: Redistricting in North Carolina after the 2020 census

On October 25, 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly adopted new congressional district boundaries.[12] The legislation adopting the new maps passed the state Senate by a vote of 28-18 and the State House by a vote of 64-40.[13] Both votes were strictly along party lines with all votes in favor by Republicans and all votes against by Democrats.[14][15]

The New York Times' Maggie Astor wrote, "The map creates 10 solidly Republican districts, three solidly Democratic districts and one competitive district. Currently, under the lines drawn by a court for the 2022 election, each party holds seven seats. The Democratic incumbents who have been essentially drawn off the map are Representatives Jeff Jackson in the Charlotte area, Kathy Manning in the Greensboro area and Wiley Nickel in the Raleigh area. A seat held by a fourth Democrat, Representative Don Davis, is expected to be competitive."[12]

How does redistricting in North Carolina work? In North Carolina, the state legislature is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. District maps cannot be vetoed by the governor. State legislative redistricting must take place in the first regular legislative session following the United States Census. There are no explicit deadlines in place for congressional redistricting.[16]

State law establishes the following requirements for state legislative districts:[16]

  • Districts must be contiguous and compact.
  • Districts "must cross county lines as little as possible." If counties are grouped together, the group should include as few counties as possible.
  • Communities of interest should be taken into account.

There are no similar restrictions in place regarding congressional districts.[16]


Below are the congressional maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for North Carolina’s 2024 congressional elections.

Below are the congressional maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for North Carolina’s 2024 congressional elections.

Below are the congressional maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for North Carolina’s 2024 congressional elections.

2020

2019_05_02_nc_congressional_district_03.jpg

2024

2025_01_03_nc_congressional_district_03.jpg
See also: Redistricting in North Carolina after the 2010 census

North Carolina's congressional district plan was subject to litigation following its adoption in 2011. Two challenges to the plan were heard by the Supreme Court of the United States: Cooper v. Harris, which was decided in 2017, and Rucho v. Common Cause, which decided on June 27, 2019. As a result of Rucho, North Carolina's congressional district plan was upheld. For more complete information, see this article.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2026

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+10. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 10 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made North Carolina's 3rd the 122nd most Republican district nationally.[17]

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+11. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 11 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made North Carolina's 3rd the 132nd most Republican district nationally.[18]

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 58.0%-40.7%.[19]

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+15. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 15 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made North Carolina's 3rd the 86th most Republican district nationally.[20]

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 36.7% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 62.0%.[21]

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+12. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 12 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District the 110th most Republican nationally.[22]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.99. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.99 points toward that party.[23]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "June Primary Candidates," accessed March 27, 2016
  2. ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, North Carolina," accessed November 7, 2012
  3. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  4. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
  5. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
  6. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
  7. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
  8. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named senatepass
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named housepass
  11. ↑ New York Times, "North Carolina State Senate Approves New Congressional Map in Effort to Add a Seat," October 21, 2025
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 The New York Times, "North Carolina Republicans Approve House Map That Flips at Least Three Seats," October 26, 2023
  13. ↑ North Caroliina General Assembly, "Senate Bill 757 / SL 2023-145," accessed October 26, 2023
  14. ↑ North Caroliina General Assembly, "House Roll Call Vote Transcript for Roll Call #613," accessed October 26, 2023
  15. ↑ North Caroliina General Assembly, "Senate Roll Call Vote Transcript for Roll Call #492," accessed October 26, 2023
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 All About Redistricting, "North Carolina," accessed April 20, 2015
  17. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  18. ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed January 10, 2024
  19. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
  20. ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed February 6, 2023
  21. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
  22. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  23. ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018


North Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Ted Budd (R)
Thom Tillis (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
Republican Party (12)
Democratic Party (4)

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